I don’t really know anything about parenting, other than what I see from my friends and family. Besides the fact that it’s a big deal, and you know, it completely changes your life. But I have met quite a few women who loved the outdoors before they had their first child and have learned how to raise their children and not lose that connection in the process. Which I think is inspiring…

People ask me, “What’s your mom like,” and I tell them that she’s a ball of energy, running on caffeine and chocolate, kind of like…me sometimes. She’s a stubborn lady. I remember her saying one time when we were out for a four mph walk, Oh, I wish I could still run. She never makes excuses, never stopped moving because of this injury or that injury, Oh I have a bad back/bad knees/don’t have time. She just makes time.

And since this Sunday is Mother’s Day, we decided to troll the internet for a few more inspiring stories of mothers out there. They all seem to incorporate climbing, which is alright with us — and a pretty awesome metaphor as Susan E.B. Schwartz wrote in Climbing Magazine:

As I see it, motherhood is a lot like rock climbing.

Nothing truly prepares you for either: all the expert explanations, advice from well-meaning friends, instructional videos and manuals — nothing does motherhood or climbing justice. I’ve learned this firsthand after nearly a decade at the first and two decades at the second.

In the end, climbing and motherhood come down to one thing: until you’re there yourself, perched precariously, staring wide-eyed and terrified around you, you have absolutely no idea what it’s like. Combining two such powerful and all-consuming life experiences has always challenged women.

I believe that life is about living gracefully through the transitions. I have climbed the world over for the last 10 years and developed a keen sense of my body and its strengths. As a healthy expectant mother I continued to listen to the needs of my body. Staying in tune often means exploring the possibilities: changes in balance, energy needs, and the ability to move with ease. I hope you enjoy this video which means so much to me. It feels like a reflection of the adaptability of the human body and the strength of the human spirit.

Chances are, if you’re reading this blog post, you have a mom that crushes it. We hope you have an awesome climbing or backpacking trip planned with her this Sunday. Happy Mother’s Day!

We’re all well aware it’s National Bike Month, but did you realize May 9th marks the first inaugural Bike to School Day for children of all ages?

Together, the National Center for Safe Routes to School and the League of American Bicyclists have created a day that encourages America’s youth to find a safe way to commute to school via bike (or on foot, as well). Of course, the ultimate goal is to educate students about safe bike routes to school so they may choose to commute via two wheels more frequently throughout the entire school year.

According to Momentum Magazine, “The long term goal of this event is to get more and more students to choose biking and walking over a car or bus ride. Safe Routes to School benefits not only the kids through safety and educational programs, but entire neighborhoods by building sidewalks or creating bicycle paths. Communities get an entire face-lift,” said Jess Mathews, coordinator with Safe Routes to School.

Through the Bike to School Event, Matthews hopes to raise awareness of the potential barriers that stand in the way of kids’ abilities to commute to school — and to help create change so that future generations can safely commute on any given day.

Schools can go here to register for the event and get planning and promotion tips to help spread the word about cycling for change!

Every Wednesday on Ditch Your Car we’ll be bringing you just another reason to spend more time on two wheels. Be it a photo, a statistic or an inspirational video, we want to keep reminding you about why riding is great!

Here at Osprey, we’re excited about the new generation of hikers, mountain bikers, climbers and conservationists, so in order to introduce these little ones to the great outdoors, we’ve developed the perfect platform: our Poco Series.

“Superb ventilation as well as quick and easy torso and hipbelt adjustment were important factors in the design of the Poco series from the outset,” said Gareth Martins, Osprey’s marketing director. “Ventilation is the key to comfort for both parent and child and ability to quickly adjust the pack between parents ensures the comfortable fit expected from an Osprey.”

The Poco Series channels everything we know about packs into a line of child carriers that are comfortable, supportive, light, well ventilated, and supremely easy to adjust for fit. Thoughtfully designed to ensure the safety and comfort of their precious cargo, the fully-featured Pocos are child carriers done right.

The pack will be available at REI in mid-January 2012, but for now check out our featured Poco preview page for details and updates, photos and video!

We’re excited to announce our continued support of 88bikes, a micro-philanthropy project that gives bikes to kids in developing countries, and their upcoming endowment of 200 bikes and a sustainable bike shop to the Navajo Nation.

Here at Osprey, we first pledged our support for the organization in 2010, when we raised $2,500 for the Navajo endowment through sales of our Raptor hydration packs at Interbike Dirt Demo, with 100% of the proceeds going to 88bikes.

This year, we plan to repeat our successful fundraiser at the Interbike Dirt Demo. In addition, we will recruit employees and friends to volunteer at repair and maintenance clinics for the bike recipients, and help lead the kids on a local bike tour. Additionally, we’re honored and excited to help launch 88bikes’ first sustainable bike shop, to be located in the Navajo Nation.

“Many of our original team members are Navajo, so this is a very special project to us,” said Jeff Fox bike marketing manager at Osprey. “We are thrilled to help bring the happiness and freedom that a bike provides to kids in our own backyard. We look forward to staying involved in other facets of this inspirational project, from bike training and rides to launching the sustainable bike shop.”

On May 3, 2011, 200 young people attending the Whitehorse High School in Montezuma Creek on the Navajo Nation will be given their bikes at the “Moment of Happy.” As part of the endowment, they will also receive the training to maintain them, and have the opportunity to take a guided bike tour with Osprey team members through the southwest desert.

Additionally, 88bikes will unveil their first sustainable 88bikeshop, made entirely from locally-foraged materials, including the hoods of junked cars. Portable and elegant, with ample workspace for workshops and clinics, it will be located in Montezuma Creek.

“We are very grateful to Osprey for their continued support of our mission and of the children of the Navajo Nation,” said Dan Austin, co-founder of 88bikes. “We can’t wait for Osprey team members and the kids of Montezuma Creek to hop on their bikes and head off for a ride together!”

The Navajo Nation endowment is part of VILLAGES, 88bikes’ fifth and biggest project to date with additional endowments in Mongolia, Mozambique, South Africa and Nicaragua. The goal of the VILLAGES project is to distribute 1,000 new bikes to local children. To date, 940 bikes have been sponsored through donations of $88 per bike. 88bikes also plan to set up four to five bike shop “hubs” serving these rural communities and establish bike shop apprenticeships and workshops for each location.